Melkende boer c. 1886

"Melkende boer" (Milking Farmer) is a small, 185mm x 110mm, wood engraving created by Dutch artist Willem de Zwart in 1886. This artwork depicts a rural scene likely from the Netherlands, where a farmer is depicted milking a cow in a field. The image is engraved in a dark, almost black, tone with the lighter areas of the engraving representing the field and cow. The etching gives the impression of a quick, rough sketch done outdoors, capturing a snapshot of rural life in the 19th century.